This spring break I went totally out of my comfort zone. I did something I have never done before: I took my family to the mountains of Tennessee. For those who don’t know me, if it’s your first time here, I’m a city-slicker from Houston, Texas. I don’t do mountains. I want to put that up front. Initially, I was going to take my family to the big, beautiful city of Chicago. I realized it would have been easy to spend a lot money in Chicago, but God wanted me to go to the mountains to spend a lot of time with my family. It would have been really easy for me to walk up and down the magnificent mile in Chicago, but God wanted me and my family to walk up and down the magnificent mountains in Tennessee. It would have been really easy for us to catch the L-train in Chicago, but God wanted us to go to Tennessee to try to catch some fish during those four days in the mountains. Something hit me while I was in the mountains; I realized what had gone on in Nehemiah’s mind for 52 years. Nehemiah was a city slicker as well; he lived in Babylon and now he was called to go back to Jerusalem. Nehemiah had to rebuild the rubble and debris within Jerusalem. I can only imagine Nehemiah telling God, "I don’t know anything about carpentry, I’m not a masonry worker, I’m not a construction worker. Lord, I’m a culinary, I’m a chef, I’m a cupbearer, I drink wine. God, I don’t know anything about building." But Nehemiah was willing to step out of his comfort zone and was willing to trust God to fulfill his life’s destiny and purpose for which God had created him. I believe Nehemiah gives us some keen insight and some awesome critique of what it means to be a servant leader today. We’re going to go to Nehemiah 5:14-19. "Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year - twelve years - neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors - those preceding me - placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people. Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people."

As we look at this passage of scripture, we see that servant leaders really set the example. If you are going to follow Christ, servant leaders set the example. Look at verse 14, "Neither I nor my brothers ate the food that was allotted to us." After serving as governor for over 12 years, Nehemiah realized he had to possess this right attitude of the heart. Being a servant leader is not always about receiving, but it’s about giving to God’s greater purpose so that others can experience blessings. There were a lot of perks for him; and his whole team could have had so many great benefits, but Nehemiah chose to lead by example, he chose to do something different. When you think about this position that Nehemiah had and that the governors before him had oppressed the people, but Nehemiah chose to liberate people. Servant leaders lead by example, they aren’t led by entitlement. As a servant leader, Nehemiah realized that the more responsibility that you’ve been given means the less rights that you have. As leaders, every time God gives us greater responsibility, it diminishes and decreases our rights and privileges that we have in the kingdom. Because of this huge responsibility to the kingdom, it was imperative that Nehemiah would set the example. So, for 12 years, Nehemiah realized that it was more about influence than affluence. Nehemiah realized that God gave him a position to have influence on the people, but he didn’t give him a position to gain greater affluence.
    
When I think about this influence and affluence, I reminded of the church that I pastored in Houston before I came here. It was a mid-sized church, a fast-growing church, a very vibrant church, but it wasn’t a mega church. In a mid-sized church, you have more privileges and get more perks. Let me tell you some of the perks and privileges I had. I had a personal parking spot at my former church. I had a pastor’s appreciation day, where they blessed the pastor with nice things. I had my personal picture in the lobby of the church. I thought I had it going on, but I realized that many privileges can cause you to have a sense of entitlement and can make you a little bit arrogant. I’m not going to ask if anybody has been there before. There’s something about being in a mega church, it's a bit different. I don’t have a lot perks and privileges here, but I have a whole bunch of influence with a lot of people. It’s amazing; I can get a phone call or an e-mail from Georgia or Jamaica of how God has transformed people’s lives just by hearing the ministry and message that comes out of my heart. I have fewer rights, but I have a greater responsibility. And even though I have to walk about a half a mile to come to the church every day, I realize it’s not about me. When you’re a servant leader, it’s not about you. God gives you greater responsibility to be a greater blessing and not a burden to other people. As a servant leader you have to realize it’s not about you, but it’s about leading and setting the example. Nehemiah realized that servant leadership is a calling, and when you are called to be a servant leader, not only do you set the tone, but sometimes you have to be willing to go first.

Nehemiah not only set the example, but he was willing to go first because God had called him. When you think about it, everything Nehemiah did, he never waited for his neighbor, his friends, but he trusted God for the calling on his life and he was willing to step out, do things different, and go first. Verse 15 says the earlier governors who preceded Nehemiah placed a heavy burden on the people. Nehemiah was called to do things differently. Nehemiah was called to go first and not do like his predecessors. Whenever Nehemiah desired to make a difference, he was willing to go first. When he heard about all the rubble in Jerusalem, Nehemiah went first to the king, by himself, to get permission to go back to Jerusalem. When Nehemiah went to check out the rubble and debris that was in Jerusalem, he went by himself. Nehemiah went first, and so often in our lives God wants us to do great things, but we aren’t willing to go first. Even though the governors led with self in mind, Nehemiah always led with others in mind. These predecessors were always trying to line their pockets, but Nehemiah realized it wasn’t about him, but Nehemiah was willing to go first. Nehemiah was not only willing to go first, but he led with effectiveness and with excellence. If you’re a servant leader, not only does God want you to go first and trust that God has called you, but you have to lead with effectiveness and excellence. Stop waiting for permission for someone to tell you what you need to do, God has already equipped you to go forward to fulfill God’s great purpose. These other leaders sought to move with self-interest, but Nehemiah realized that it wasn’t about oppressing others; it was about relieving others so that they could fulfill their life purpose as well. When God has called you to serve God’s greater purpose, you must be willing to live with new paradigms and new life patterns. Many of us need to be willing to live from the frontline and live to trust that God has given us courage to fulfill this daunting task that seems to be so overwhelming in our lives.

Many of you are scared to go first. You are in a place of stagnation because of the past that you’ve experienced in life - past hurts, past relationships, past disappointments. Many of you have stopped moving forward, but as servant leaders you must be willing to break generational curses, you must be willing to break those vicious cycles that are causing you to settle for mediocrity and causing you to settle for just enough. God has called you to go first. Servant leaders must be willing to go first and graduate from high school, college or even grad school. Be willing to be the first parent in your family to not live in debt. Be willing to be the first marriage to break that generational curse to not end in divorce. Be willing to be the first one to be a radical follower of Jesus and not to just seek religion. Be willing to be the first one to live in sobriety and move beyond addiction. God wants you to go first. Many of you are settling for second best. God says I’ve called and you have a great life, but you have to be willing to step out and go first. There are some generational curses right now that have been stopping you, they’re emotional, they’re spiritual, they’re financial, but we raised Jesus Christ last week, and because of Calvary, because of the cross, he’s given servant leaders like you and me to break every curse that’s stopping us from fulfilling our life purpose. What’s stopping you from moving forward? What bondage is stopping you from being the awesome servant that God has created you to be?

I told you about my trip to Tennessee - can I be really honest with you all? I’m a city slicker in the mountains of Tennessee and I didn’t want to tell my wife and kids that I didn’t know what the heck I was doing there. But guess what? Servant leaders sometimes do things afraid. Being from Houston, Texas, when I think about maintains and living in mountains, I think of a song like Dueling Banjos. That’s all I know about mountains, but I’m willing as a servant leader to try something at least one time if God is calling me to do it. So the highlight of the week was when I took my family fishing. Anybody ever been fishing with their family? How many dads have taken their kids fishing? How many moms have taken their kids fishing? If you've never done it, you're missing a blessing. I’ve never taken my kids fishing, but I had to step out and do something different.
    
So, in the mountains, I met a local guy named Randy. Randy stopped by the lake house where we were staying. Randy is a plumber, so he was making a couple of adjustments with the plumbing, working really hard. He is a real nice guy in his late 20s or early 30s and he loved his job. I could tell he has excellent passion for what he does. While he was working, I was having a conversation with him and said, "Hey, Randy, do you know where I can go fishing?" He came from under that sink so easy and stood up like a doe. He said, "Fish? You want to fish?" I said, "Yeah." He said, "What kind of fish do you want? Big mouth bass, small mouth bass, croppy, bluegill?" I said, "I just want to fish." "What kind of fish do you want?" I said, "I just want to fish." He said, "We have wildlife fish and you've got to have the right bait." I said, "What kind of bait do I need?"
He said, "You've got to have some artificial, grey ghosts." I said, "What is grey ghost bait?" He said, "Maybe they don’t like grey ghost bait - use a night crawler. I asked, "What is a night crawler?" He said, "If you use a night crawler, you put it on the hook and you can even fish at night and they’ll come right up to the light and jump right on the boat." I said, "Really?" He said, "Yeah, really." I said, "Where can I get the bait?" He said, "Go to Fast Freddie's." "Where’s Fast Freddie's?" "Right down the road about eight miles. Go to Fast Freddie's and ask for some night crawlers and some artificial grey ghost."

So I went to Fast Freddie's and people were so nice. They were looking at me, and I was looking at them – yeah, we’re new around here and I’m taking my family fishing. So I walked in there like I owned the whole place and I said, "Hey, man, give some grey ghosts." "Oh, you want some grey ghosts?" I said, "Yes. And can you give me some night crawlers?" "Night crawlers?" I said, "Yeah, night crawlers." Now in Texas, we call night crawlers worms. I’m a city clicker, and two things I don’t do is electricity and snakes. So, they gave me these things, they’re not worms, they’re baby snakes! Here I am, a pastor, proud husband, committed dad, but I don’t mess with baby snakes. But my daughter was watching me, my wife was depending on me, so I had to play with some baby snakes, and put them on a hook. Now the funny thing - I prayed, I prayed, I prayed, I prayed, "Lord, please let the fish bite with this artificial bait. Lord, please, because I don’t want to use the night crawlers." My family was depending on me, I was scared. But as a servant leader, never let folks see you sweat. So I used the artificial ones first. So many times we want to use the easy nicely-packaged stuff. I got my fishing pole ready, and we cast out, using my gray ghosts. I was fishing with the grey ghost and the whole time I was saying, "Lord Jesus, please let these fish bite the grey ghost, 'cause I don’t want to have to play with these baby snakes, I don’t want to mess with them." So we were sitting there… 20 minutes…30 minutes…35…40… and my daughter had this great suggestion that I didn’t want to hear. She said, "Daddy, use the night crawlers." But servant leaders sometimes even have to live in the midst of their fears. So my daughter was to my right, my son was to my left, my wife was behind me - and everybody was depending on little ol' me. So, I got the baby snake and put in on the hook. My daughter said, "Daddy, you're shaking." I said, "Because it’s cold out here." So I put it on there, and I was nervous, and I thought. "If my boys back in Houston could see me now." I was nervous and I cast it back out. I messed that nightcrawler all up because I put it in the head and then went through the body. It was a poor job, but my family didn’t know it. So it was in the water, and I felt something nibbling - but guess what, it came back up and the night crawler was still alive. So I threw it back in and 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30…40…an hour and guess what? No fish. At that moment, we didn’t catch any fish, but my kids caught a different picture on how to live their life. We didn’t catch any fish, but that day my kids saw their daddy stepping out and trying something new, they saw their daddy going first. There’s something about stepping out and going first. There are people in your family depending on you. You can never experience God’s big picture and God’s possibilities for your life until you step out and go first. I was willing to go first simply because I love my family. Love propelled me to do it. When you are a servant leader, servant leaders love the most.  

Verse 17, "Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations." Nehemiah teaches us that servant leaders aren’t driven by money, but are motivated by loving people. I love what Mahatma Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Because of this motivation, Nehemiah wasn’t exempt from loving everybody or from doing the hard work. This is the first time he said, "I devoted myself to the work." Servant leaders sometimes have to do the work first so that others can catch it. If you're a business owner, a schoolteacher, a leader in your community, even a family member, sometimes you have to be willing to do the dirty work, the hard work, it says then "the other workers followed suit." There was nothing pretty or popular about working on this debris, but sometimes you have to do the hard work to restore the brokenness in other people. Sometimes leaders have to be devoted to doing things that are unpopular so that other people can live. Going to the Sudan, there’s nothing pretty or popular about going there. Matter of fact, it’s downright dirty and dangerous. But servant leaders have to go to forsaken places to bless forgotten people. Sometimes it’s not popular to do the hard work. The way that people will follow you is how you do your work and servant leaders sometimes have to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work and others will follow suit.

Last week, we celebrated one of the greatest servant leaders to walk on this earth. We lifted him in praise and sang great hymns to him. This great servant leader was willing to do the dirty work. His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus was willing to roll up his sleeves and bow down and wash folk’s feet. John 13 says he washed feet. I thought about it, not only do I not like baby snakes; I don’t like playing with feet. How many of you like playing with feet? Jesus was the King of kings and Lord of lords, but he did the dirty work because he realized that sometimes dirty work has redemptive purpose and it has eternal value. Sometimes you have to do the dirty work so that others can have real life purpose. Jesus said it’s not about my title, but it’s about the task, so that other folks can live. Jesus was a leader who loved the most.

Nehemiah was one who led with the common touch. Common touch means that Nehemiah knew how to connect with everybody. Nehemiah had everybody at the table - blue collar, white collar, no collar. Nehemiah had a heart, an attitude of gratitude, that he invited everybody to the table. Nehemiah led with the common touch just like Jesus. Even the Pharisees said, "Hey, man, you're eating with tax collectors, you're hanging out with sinners - why are you eating with prostitutes?" Jesus knew how to love and lead with the common touch. One thing I love about Nehemiah, unlike his predecessors, Nehemiah had the ability to connect to everybody. When Nehemiah threw a party, he threw a party with a purpose. He said, "I’m going to bring you all to the table because God has work for us to do on the wall." So everybody came together, and Nehemiah began to empower them so they could fulfill their life purpose. Think about Jesus, he threw a big banquet one time and called all the officials, all the senators, all the business owners and those folks didn’t even show up. Jesus said, "Okay, you’ve got the big head, huh?" He said, "Go to the street corner and invite them to come to my party." It’s in Matthew 22, check it out sometime. He invited the homeless, the marginalized, the poor, the addicted. Come and see how we party. We party with a purpose. Servant leaders have the ability to see the untapped and unpolished potential in other people. Jesus had the ability to see the good in everybody. Jesus had the ability to hang out with folks who didn’t want to hang out with him. It’s something about leading and loving and living with the common touch.

A couple of months ago, I had the great opportunity to go to Louisiana with a Katrina Relief team to restore hope in Louisiana from the devastation on the Gulf Coast. God blessed me with 22 men who went to Louisiana and this mission trip was a party with a purpose. All these 22 guys, some were broken, some were addicted, some were homeless, some were single, others were married, some had great careers, others were unemployed, but God allowed us to go there to restore brokenness in the lives of other people. The neat thing about this trip that really blessed me while I was there, I wasn’t immune from doing the dirty work. It could have been so easy for me to be pastor and just push a pen and turn some paper, but I was willing to push a broom and to lay tile. I didn’t know what I was doing, but those guys loved me, because they saw me trying. And the more I tried, the more work got done. Not only did I do the dirty work, I was willing to love each one of those guys individually. I see one of the men here who was with me, and I was scared of him when I first went there, but when I left he was just an old lovable guy. And there is nothing I can’t ask from him, because I love him and he loves me. That’s what happens, we were there in Louisiana and I came back with 22 brand new friends because I loved them right where they were and I led with the common touch.

As a servant leader, I’m going to ask you a question. Who is at your table? Who you do invite to your parties? Who’s on your list to help grow hope one life at a time? When was the last time you were willing to step out of your comfort zone and set the example? When was the last time you said, "Okay, God, here I am. I don’t know what the heck I’m doing, but here I am, I’ll go first." Some of you are still sitting here and God has called you to be a leader. What are you waiting for? Yesterday is behind you, but today, right now is the best day of your life. Get up, get out, do something, you are a leader. The Bible says "greater is he that is in you" and if you said "yes" to Jesus, there is a leader crying out saying, "God, I want to go to the next level. I’m tired of the boring life; I want you to use me for your great purpose." Maybe you’re sitting here right now, and God is saying get out of your comfort zone. Are you willing to love the most, even though the person hurt you? Are you willing to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing? Are you willing to love folks so that they can experience the awesome love of Jesus? I’m going to challenge you. God is calling you right now, to let that leader arise in your life. Aren’t you tired of the predictable, mundane, boring life? God says that when you know that you’ve been called by name, he can do so many awesome things in your life that everything will begin to change. It won’t be easy, but it’s going to be worth it. In Jesus name, Amen.

I don’t know where you are right now, but I see at least three-fourths of the people in this room who are ready to go to the next level. Nehemiah teaches us and Jesus gives us a great example of what it means to be a servant leader. He didn’t come to be served or to have perks and privileges, but he came to be a servant and to give his life as a ransom so that others could live. I want to pray for you. I believe the Holy Spirit is wrestling with your heart, and God wants you to do some new things in life. Let’s go to God in prayer and see what God wants to say. God, we thank You for great moments when we can realize our failures and our flaws and we can honestly admit, dear God, that we don’t have it all together. But, God, I’m so glad that You are God and that You can still use the foolish things to change the minds of the cynical. God, we pray Your Spirit on every person and every family here. Lord, we pray that every curse will be reversed and every individual and every family will begin to lead by example and trust that with You, God, all things are possible. Lord, we give You thanks because You’ve called us to be a servant leader and we’re getting out of our comfort zones. We place our hands in Your hands and we trust that with You the best is yet to come. We thank You and praise You for this post-resurrection beginning to be a servant leader right here in the kingdom of God. It’s in Jesus' name we pray, and we all say together real loud, Amen.